Alan Norris fights back from a set down to beat Justin Pipe in opening game of World Grand Prix in Dublin

Alan Norris fought back from a set down to defeat Justin Pipe 2-1 to reach the last 16 of the Unibet World Grand Prix for a second year running.

The world number 18 has enjoyed runs to the semi-finals of the UK Open and the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay this year, but at one set behind and trailing 2-1 in the second set to Pipe he looked to be heading for an early exit in Dublin.

Pipe, a semi-finalist in the World Grand Prix back in 2013, produced a 170 checkout in the second leg of the match as he went on to claim the opening set 3-1.

A 104 finish on double 12 gave Norris the first leg in the next set, before Pipe picked up the next two legs to go 2-1 up and begin the fourth leg throwing for a place in the second round.

However, on the brink of defeat Norris replied with back-to-back 12 darters, including finishes of 101 and 102, to take the set 3-2 and force a deciding set.

Norris had begun to find his range and after kicking off the last two legs of set two with a 160, the 45-year-old began the first two legs of the deciding set with 160 starts as he moved 2-0 up.

Pipe kept his hopes alive with a 58 checkout to hold throw in the next leg, but an 81 finish on the bullseye moved the Yeovil-born ace into the last 16 of the double-start tournament for the second year running.